Randy Moss to San Francisco: Only a Matter of Time Before Experiment Backfires

The San Francisco 49ers made a big splash in the media Monday night by agreeing to terms on a one-year contract with wide wide receiver Randy Moss. It's far from certain, however, that the 49ers will get the significant upgrade at wide receiver they were hoping for. Instead, it is quite a bit more likely that they'll end up regretting that they signed him in the first place.

Granted, Randy Moss will one day put on one of those hideous yellow sport coats as his bust his enshrined at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The 49ers hedged their bets with a minimal investment in Moss, and the 35-year-old has reportedly looked great in workouts since announcing he was returning to the NFL, at least according to FOX Sports' Jay Glazer.

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hearing from multiple sources re Randy Moss workout today he lit it up. Was told he ran about 45 routes and "looked like the old Randy."

— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) March 6, 2012"

Thing is, to borrow a metaphor from another sport, it still feels like the San Francisco 49ers swung and missed on this one.

First, while Moss may well have looked good in workouts he hasn't been an impact receiver in the National Football League in some time. The 2010 season was an absolute nightmare for Moss, who failed to top 400 receiving yards or 30 catches while bouncing among three teams. After being jettisoned by both the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings, Moss held down the bench for the Tennessee Titans to close out the year before calling it quits on his NFL career.

The second issue I have with this acquisition by the 49ers is just that...Moss quits. Randy Moss has a well-developed reputation for quitting on teams from coast to coast if things don't go "his" way. Moss disputed that reputation in a recent interview with CSN Bay Area's Matt Maiaco, but if it walks like a duck, flies like a duck and quacks like a duck, then odds are it's a duck.

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Well, the thing about me being here is they've done their research on me. And I think when it comes to the world-wide sports media, I've gotten a bad rap. They've done their homework on me or they wouldn't have brought me in here.

I'm just saying, more of not being a team player and things like that. I really don't want to get into that because that's not what I'm here for. I think that one thing I'd like the sports world to understand is the love and the passion I have for the game of football. I think every player wants to win and every organization wants to win.

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Jim Harbaugh is a no-nosense head coach who may be able to get Moss to tow the company line, but Bill Belichick is the king of no-nonsense head coaches. While Moss enjoyed three of his finest seasons in New England under Belichick that didn't stop Moss from eventually hitting the "off" switch with the Patriots.

Finally, there's a very good chance that Randy Moss won't get "his" way in San Francisco. The 49ers advanced to the NFC Championship Game a year ago by running the ball, playing defense and using a short passing game. Some of that lack of verticality in the aerial attack may be due to the 49ers' less than stellar wide receiver corps, but part of it is also attributable to quarterback Alex Smith, who while a solid starting quarterback (finally) doesn't exactly have a cannon for an arm.

That doesn't really suit a wide receiver whose route tree only has one branch, so if Moss isn't involved enough in the offense will he do what he has historically done in the past and check out?

If that does occur the 49ers have left themselves in a position where they can at least cut bait with minimal negative impact, but it would absolutely be in San Francisco's best interest to continue to try to upgrade at the position.

If the 49ers don't and count on Randy Moss to provide the spark to their passing game that the team so desperately needs then it's very possible that San Francisco will strike out in their efforts to advance deep into the NFC playoffs in 2012.

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